Gate-latch.



L. ENOK.

GATE LATCH. APPLICATION FILED IUNE8.19I8.

1,@89,7., Patented Dec. 31,1918.

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LOUIS ENOK, 0F WEIRSDALE, FLORIDA.

GATE-LATCH.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LoUIs ENOK, a citizen of the United States. residing at WVeirsdale, in the county of Mariom and State of Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to latches especially adapted for use upon gates which are hinged to swing in either direction, so as to permit of the gate being opened from either side and in a direction away from the person passing therethrough.

To this end the invention includes a spring actuated slide mounted for movement lon itudinally of the gate and having operatively connected thereto a pair of oppositely disposed beveled ended pivoted latch dogs adapted to be retracted when the slide is withdrawn, so as to move said dogs from engagement with the post of abutment, said dogs being also retracted through engagement with the said post or abutment when the gate is in the act of closing.

The invention further includes the following novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts. to be hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the latch end of a gate and the adjacent gate post, with the improved latch applied;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view with the lower plate of the latch housing removed; and

Fig. 3 is a central transverse sectional view of the latch.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the position of the parts when the latch is in operation.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the gate which is shown at 10 is of the horizontal swinging type, which is capable of swinging in opposite directions for the purpose of opening the same and the gate post is indicated at 11.

The improved latch, which is herein shown is mounted upon the top bar of the gate, includes a casing which comprises a frame 12, a top plate 13 and a bottom plate 14. Located within the casing or housing is a slide 15. herein shown as formed with a block with its opposite forward corners beveled as shown at 16, for a purpose presently apparent. The slide is normally Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed June 8, 1918. Serial No. 238,903.

forced toward the outer free end of the gate through the medium of a coil spring 17, one end of which is secured to the said slide and the opposite end to the rear wall of the frame 12.

Pivotally mounted as shown at 18 at each end of the slide 15 is one of a pair of latch dogs 19, which have their outer ends pointed as shown at 20 and projected through a slot 21 formed in the frame 12. The latch dogs 19 are normally disposed at an angle with respect to the slide 15, the said angle being parallel to the beveled ends 16 of the said slide. Links 20 serve to connect the dogs to the slide, each of these links having one end pivotally connected to one of the dogs 19 and the opposite end similarly connected to the slide 15, as shown at 22 and 23 respectively. The inner ends of the dogs are preferably beveled, as shown, for engagement with abutments 24, which serve as stops to limit the outward movement of the slide and to hold the said dogs in proper spaced relation for engagement with the posts 11.

The upper plate 13 of the casing projects beyond the forward edge of the frame 12, so as to afford protection for the projecting ends 20 of the dogs 19. Secured to the slide 15 is a finger piece 25, which projects through a slot 26 in the bottom plate 14 and affords convenient means for moving the slide inward to retract the latching dogs.

Owing to the particular construction and disposition of theparts, the engagement of either of the latching dogs with the abutment when the gate is being closed will cause that particular dog to be retracted, without retracting the opposite dog, so that the latter dog will remain in position for engagement with the abutment or post to prevent the gate from swinging by.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is reserved to make such changes.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is 1. The combination with a horizontally swinging member, of a casing mounted upon said member, a spring actuated sliding ele ment located within said casing and capable of horizontal movement in all directions, a pair of oppositely inclined latching dogs mounted within said casing, one of said dogs being located at each end of the slide and having one end projecting through a slot 'in said: casingtlinks connecting said dogs spring actuated element capable of horizon and slide and a finger piece connected to theYtal sliding" movement in all directions and 1 slide and projecting through a slot in the latching dogs located adjacent each end of casing for operating the slide to retract the said element and connected thereto, whereby dogs, and said dogs being: capable of indemovement of the said element will'swmg pendent pivotal movement. the dogs in opposite directions.

2. The combination with a horizontally In testimony whereof I afiix my signatnre; 15

v swinging member, of a latch embodying a LOUIS ENOK.

. Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patente Washington, D. G. 

